Craig Bellamy’s role in Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues coaching ‘dream team’ revealed

While Laurie Daley was the face of NSW in his Blues return, he wasn’t alone in the coaches box. See the inside story behind Craig Bellamy’s ‘awesome’ contribution to NSW’s win over Queensland.

Legendary coach Craig Bellamy has spoken for the first time about his behind-the-scenes role which inspired NSW to Wednesday night’s epic win before endorsing Laurie Daley to become an NRL head coach.

Bellamy was in camp with NSW, and sat in the Blues coaching box at Suncorp Stadium, but his responsibilities were largely unknown – until now.

Daley, Bellamy, Matt King, Brett White, Dean Young and Boyd Cordner have formed a formidable NSW coaching team which spanked Queensland’s backsides in Origin I.

In a high-praise tribute, Daley labelled Bellamy as “awesome” and claimed the Storm coach’s input was “strategic and important.”

Craig Bellamy alongside Laurie Daley at NSW Blues training before State of Origin game one. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

White added: “Craig kept an eye on everything and made sure the high-end detail kept us on the right track. Craig being here just gave us all a lot of confidence.”

Bellamy was subdued in the NSW coaching box, compared to his Melbourne Storm theatrics, but dispensed sage advice throughout the game, particularly around the Blues’ interchange.

In a revealing interview, Bellamy said: “I helped the coaches more than the players. I spoke to a couple of individuals but I didn’t have a whole heap to do with the players.

“I was really a bit of a sounding board. It was mostly about me seeing or hearing things in meetings.

“I didn’t give feedback on everything, just a couple of things I felt strongly about – getting those interchanges right, who and when, and the reason why you make them.

“That was the main reason I might have been there, to help out with that.

“I just threw in my ideas. Sometimes they take them in, sometimes they throw them out, which is fine.

Daley in the Blues' coaching box, with Bellamy behind him.

“All the coaches were throwing in different ideas. Laurie handled that well, decided what he thought was best and he went with it.”

Bellamy insisted Daley was an NRL coach-in-waiting.

“Oh yeah, he could be if he wants to be, without a doubt,” Bellamy said.

“Laurie was really good – he probably felt his way early. Some of his talks to the team, especially late in the week, were very strong.

“He got more confident speaking with the group as the week went on.

“He was very strong in the messages that he wanted to give the group. He did a great job.”

Daley offered special applause to Bellamy and the other NSW assistants.

“Mate, Craig was awesome. His input and what he says carries weight. It was strategic and important,” he said.

“All my coaching staff have been terrific. Dean, ‘Whitey’, ‘Kingy’, they’re all first grade coaches in waiting. Boyd Cordner. I’m lucky to have them on my side.

“I know about Origin, but I’m not an NRL head coach. So to have ‘Bellyache’ sitting on top of us, advising and guiding us, was important.”

Daley and Bellamy in the NSW team bus after arriving at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: NRL Images/Grant Trouville

White also gave an insight into Bellamy’s contribution on Wednesday evening.

“Craig gave guidance through his high-level coaching,” White said.

“He kept an eye on everything and made sure the high-end detail kept us on the right track. He helped us build where we want to go.

“Things like interchange and his opinion on it. Craig being here - and his voice - just gave us all a lot of confidence.

“He gave his views on what messages have to go to the players and some of the little things in the game that we don’t always pick up. Who is the next interchange and what we need at that moment.

“Building culture and spirit, and playing for each other, there’s no better person to build that than Craig Bellamy. The culture and desire Craig has built at Melbourne is something we really want to instil in the NSW side. He’s been around for a long time.”

Originally published as Craig Bellamy’s role in Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues coaching ‘dream team’ revealed